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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Scottish cabinet reshuffle: John Swinney becomes education secretary | Scottish cabinet reshuffle: John Swinney becomes education secretary |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| John Swinney has become Scotland's new education secretary as part of Nicola Sturgeon's cabinet reshuffle. | John Swinney has become Scotland's new education secretary as part of Nicola Sturgeon's cabinet reshuffle. |
| Mr Swinney had been Scotland's finance secretary for the past nine years, as well as the country's deputy first minister - a role he will keep. | Mr Swinney had been Scotland's finance secretary for the past nine years, as well as the country's deputy first minister - a role he will keep. |
| Former Transport Secretary Derek Mackay was promoted to finance secretary, with Keith Brown becoming economy secretary. | Former Transport Secretary Derek Mackay was promoted to finance secretary, with Keith Brown becoming economy secretary. |
| Both roles had previously been filled by Mr Swinney, but have now been separated. | Both roles had previously been filled by Mr Swinney, but have now been separated. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the appointment of her most experienced minister to the role of education secretary demonstrated how important education was to her government. | Ms Sturgeon said the appointment of her most experienced minister to the role of education secretary demonstrated how important education was to her government. |
| The SNP has faced criticism over the attainment gap between Scotland's wealthiest and most deprived pupils, with the country's education system also falling in international league tables. | The SNP has faced criticism over the attainment gap between Scotland's wealthiest and most deprived pupils, with the country's education system also falling in international league tables. |
| The first minister has pledged to create a "world class" education system in Scotland, with every child given the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background. | The first minister has pledged to create a "world class" education system in Scotland, with every child given the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background. |
| She said: "John's record is exemplary, overseeing a succession of balanced budgets as well as delivering the recent fiscal framework deal that will underpin the new powers being devolved to the Scottish parliament. | She said: "John's record is exemplary, overseeing a succession of balanced budgets as well as delivering the recent fiscal framework deal that will underpin the new powers being devolved to the Scottish parliament. |
| "His appointment to this crucial role demonstrates how important education is to my government." | "His appointment to this crucial role demonstrates how important education is to my government." |
| 'Challenges and opportunities' | 'Challenges and opportunities' |
| Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, welcomed Mr Swinney's appointment, and said it looked forward to working with him on the "significant issues" facing Scottish education. | Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, welcomed Mr Swinney's appointment, and said it looked forward to working with him on the "significant issues" facing Scottish education. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Mackay will have responsibility for the Scottish budget and the new tax powers that are due to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, in a role that has been described as being similar to the UK Chancellor. | |
| Mr Brown - who had been the infrastructure secretary - will be tasked with infrastructure projects, securing investment and supporting people into work, similar to the UK government's business secretary. | Mr Brown - who had been the infrastructure secretary - will be tasked with infrastructure projects, securing investment and supporting people into work, similar to the UK government's business secretary. |
| The first minister had previously said that splitting the two roles was not a reflection on how they had been carried out in the past, but rather a "reflection of the challenges and opportunities we face in the future". | The first minister had previously said that splitting the two roles was not a reflection on how they had been carried out in the past, but rather a "reflection of the challenges and opportunities we face in the future". |
| Figures released earlier on Wednesday showed that unemployment has risen in Scotland for the third consecutive month and now stands at 6.2%, compared with 5.1% for the UK as a whole. | Figures released earlier on Wednesday showed that unemployment has risen in Scotland for the third consecutive month and now stands at 6.2%, compared with 5.1% for the UK as a whole. |
| Elsewhere in the reshuffle: | Elsewhere in the reshuffle: |
| Two long-standing ministers - Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead and Social Justice Minister Alex Neil - announced ahead of the reshuffle that they were stepping down from the cabinet. | Two long-standing ministers - Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead and Social Justice Minister Alex Neil - announced ahead of the reshuffle that they were stepping down from the cabinet. |
| Ms Sturgeon unveiled her new cabinet after being formally sworn in as first minister in a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. | Ms Sturgeon unveiled her new cabinet after being formally sworn in as first minister in a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. |
| She is to lead a minority SNP government, after the party won 63 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament election on 5 May. | She is to lead a minority SNP government, after the party won 63 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament election on 5 May. |
| Responding to the reshuffle, Scottish Labour said it would hold ministers to account on their record, and called on them to "be bold and use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to stop the cuts and invest in the future". | Responding to the reshuffle, Scottish Labour said it would hold ministers to account on their record, and called on them to "be bold and use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to stop the cuts and invest in the future". |
| Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, welcomed Fergus Ewing - who was widely regarded as being supportive of fracking - being moved away from the energy brief. | Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, welcomed Fergus Ewing - who was widely regarded as being supportive of fracking - being moved away from the energy brief. |
| Mr Harvie said: "His successor, Keith Brown, can expect further pressure from Greens and others to turn the temporary moratorium into a permanent ban to protect our communities". | Mr Harvie said: "His successor, Keith Brown, can expect further pressure from Greens and others to turn the temporary moratorium into a permanent ban to protect our communities". |